The gaming industry is currently reeling from Sony’s announcement that it will cease physical disc production by 2028. As major brands like Domino's, Ryanair, and KFC weigh in on the shift toward an all-digital future, digital storefront GOG has taken a more direct approach to the issue of consumer ownership.
While GOG is a non-physical retailer, the company is positioning itself as a safeguard for preservation. In a recent statement, the store encouraged users to take control of their own libraries by manually creating physical backups of their purchases.
Download the offline installer of any of your games on GOG, save it to a disc, and it's yours forever. You don't need a storefront's permission to play what you bought.
This stance highlights a core difference between GOG and platforms like Steam. On many digital storefronts, users are required to remain logged into their accounts to access their libraries. GOG’s policy provides downloadable installers that function independently of the storefront, a practice they suggest users extend to physical media for long-term security.
The Risks of Digital-Only Libraries
The move toward a purely digital landscape has sparked concerns regarding the precarity of ownership. Digital titles are frequently delisted due to various factors, often rendering them inaccessible to those who haven't already downloaded the files to their local hardware. Additionally, requirements such as "always-online" mandates or regional account restrictions can lock players out of software they have already purchased.
Having a physical copy mitigates these risks, ensuring that a game remains playable regardless of server status or account requirements. While GOG’s advice is specific to the PC ecosystem—where users have long been able to manage their own software files—it serves as a stark contrast to the limitations currently facing console players.
Preserving Physical Media
For those interested in creating their own physical game archives, resources such as YouTube videos can guide players through the process of burning installers to disc and crafting custom labels and cover art. As the industry moves toward a model that prioritizes digital distribution, GOG’s encouragement of a DIY approach to physical media highlights a growing desire among players to maintain autonomy over the games they buy.
The shift away from physical discs remains a point of contention across the industry. Most recently, a major UK retail association noted that by abandoning physical media, PlayStation is effectively moving away from a $402 million market and reducing consumer freedoms.